Water-heater.



PATENTED AUG, 1a. 1907.

E. E. KEHNBRT.

WATER HEATER.-

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1906.

2 SHEEN-SHEET 1.

[/VVENTOR EUGENE EK HNERT WITNESSES 'AITOHNE Y8 No .*-863,402. PATENTEDAUG. 13, 1907.

V E. E. KEHNERT.

WATER HEATER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 1a, 1906.

...... III-1....

WITNESSES 7 I tion on the line 6- -6'01 5 inclosing the gas and watervalves, tl

UNITED STAiiiEg ldAlENT enrich.

EUGENE E. KEHNERT, OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM E. KAY, OF

LORAIN, OHIO.

WATERJIEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed May 18,1906. fierial No. 317,487-

water heaters adapted for domestic and shop use, in

which the water is heated by gas, and the volume of the latter admittedto the'burner is automatically regulated by the quantity of hot waterdrawn off. I dispense with springs, stuff ng-boxes, and some ,of theother usual adjuncts of heaters of this class, and I arrange the gas andwater controlling valves, and means for operatively connecting them, inone and the same casing or inclosure, whereby I attain a maximumsimplicity, .durability, and efiiciency in operation.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation of parts are ashereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is in part a side view and in part a vertical sectionof my improved water heater and its attach ments. Fig. .2 is ahorizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig,.1. Fig. 3 is a side view; andFig. '4, a plan view of the burner proper forming one of'the heaterattachments. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the gas and watercontroller. Fig. 6 is a vertical sec Fig. 7 is a crosssec tion on theline 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9is a perspective view of the lever connecting the gas and water valves.Fig. 10 'is a perspective view of the tapered, bearing for the aforesaidlever.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates the casing, the water heater, B, a watercoil arrange a burner located below the coil, and

or shell, of d therein, C, D, the casing 10 same being connected withthe coil Band burner C, as will be presently described.

'th opening The coil and burner are supported from the top of the casingA by a rod 1, and a drip pan E is applied below the burner and -the'twosecured together and to the pendent bar 1 by means oi a long screw-boll.2. The said pan E serves to receive wa ter of condenser ion. It isprovided with a central boss 3 which abuts and closes the lower open endof the hollow cylinder 1 constil utiug the central portion-or body, ofthe buruersee Figs. 1 and 2. From said cylinder 4 diverges a series ofbars 5 at an angle of about 45, their outer upper ends being connectedby a ring '6 that (-Xtcmls downward a short distance on, the sameinclinatiou as the bars. Upwardly inclined gas'passages 7 are formed inthe cylinder or body 4 between the several bars 5. It will be seen thatI'hegas udruitlcd.-to the cylinder 4 discharges upward and outward 7 andthe air to supportfcombustion has through l free passage upward betweenthe bars and thus mingles and mixes with the gas which is burned as itreaches the ring 6. By the construction of burner herein described, Ihave attained a maximum simplicity, durability, and efficiency. It isapparent that the burner may be readily detached when required forcleaning or other purposes. The coil B is quickly heated by the burnerand the water entering the same through the pipe 8, that connects withthe regulator casing I), is drawn off from the pendent the latter beingthe smaller.

' pipe Ste pipe 8 pipe 9 on the opposite side of the heater A.

The details of construction of the gas and water regulator will beunderstood from the following descrip tion, having reference to 5 to 8,inclusive (Sheet 2). As indicated in Figs. 5 and 7, the casing D isdivided vertically by a partition 10 thus forming a water compartment11, and a gas compartment 12, The water compartment y a piston valve 13into received through pipe i again practically divided b two chambers,the water bein 8 into the lower chamber and discharged by pipe 8 fromthe upper chamber. These two chambers are connected by means of aby-pass 10 which is passage formed in the partition 10. The passage ofwater from the lower chamber into the upper one, and thus from pipe 8 topipe 8* is obviously controlled by the valve 13, which is shown in Fig.5 in position to close the lower end of the by-pass, or, in off for atime the passage of the water. When raised sufiiciently to uncovermoreor less of the mouth or lower end of ,the by-pass 10 it is obvious thatwater will pass lrom the lower chamber to the upper, or from and thusinto the (Oil ll.

The gas compartment 12 is subdivided by a crosspartition 14 having anopening to receive the guide or wing portion 15 of the bevel valve 15.The valve seats upward and its stem 16 is connected by an eye with theelongated arm of the lever 17, whil 13 of the water valve 12 issimilarly connected with the shorter arm of said lever. The lat ter isarranged horizontally and provided with a spherical bearing 17, see Fig.9which is seated in a. corresponding cavity or groove ina taperedbearing 19, the same being arranged horizontally in an opening in themain partition l0. As shown in Fig. 10, the bearing comprises a tubehaving at its larger flared end a radial flange 19 through which passscrews that secure it to the partition, 10. The lever 17 is providedwith'a cylindrical boss, or enlargement, 17", at a point ad jnccnt tothespherical bearing 17*,and the inner side of the same is undercut, orformed on the arc of a circle described from the center of the sphericalpart 17'. A soft rubbcr' tube 20 is applied to the tapered bearing 15)and extends over 1 he joint between its cylindrical or smaller end andthe adjacent boss or enlargement 17 of the lever 17. The boss is groovedor otherwise roughened,

c thestem other words, cut

partments.

the lever 17 corresponding to the change in the pressure of the waterand gas, as will now-be described. The lower end of the watercompartment is closed bya screw plug 22, and the corresponding end ofthe gas compartment by a screw plug '23. These plugs may be easilyremoved for cleaning the respective com When the hot Water bib attachedto the extension of the coil pipe 9 is closed, the water pressure is thesame on both sides of the piston valve 13, and the latter beingpractically weighted, that is to say,. heavier than the gas valve 15, itmaintains the position indicated in Fig. 5 so long as the water pressureis thus equalized, and thus closes the by-pass 10. In this position thegas valve 15 is held to its seat so that no gas passes from the lower tothe upper chamber. When, however, the hot Water bib is opened, thepressure of the water is necessarily decreased in the upper chamher,that is to say, the portion of compartment 11 above the piston valve 13,and hence the greater pressure existing in the lower chamber or portionof the compartment raises the piston valve 13, thus opening the port orby-pass 10. The distance to which the valve 13 will be raised willcorrespond of course to the quantity of water drawn oil. Such movementof the valve 13 tilts the lever 17 so that the gas valve 15 is loweredor moved off its seat, the movement corresponding exactly to themovement of the water valve 13, whereby an amount or gas is allowed topass from the lower chamber of the compartment 12 into the upper one.13y these means the amount of gas allowed to pass to the burner isalways exactly and properly proportionate to the quantity of water drawnoff, so that combustion and heat are always maintained in the requireddegree. The passage of water and gas will be further understood byreference to Figs. 1 and 2, where the Water-inlet pipe is indicated by'8, the waterexit pipe by 8*, the gas inlet pipe by 8 and the gas exitpipe by 8see Fig. 1. When no more hot water is drawn off, the balance ofpressure in the compartment 10 is restored and the water valve 13resumes theposition indicated in Fig. 5 and consequently draws the gasvalve 15 to its seat, thus cutting off further flow of gas. It isobvious that the gas must be supplied toa pilot tip or burner formaintaining the igniting flame at the burner proper.

Asshown in Fig. 5, the top corner of the casing D is; made detachablefrom the main portion or body, it-

being secured by screws passing through valves. resting upon a gasket.By'removing this portion oithe casing, the entire operative parts mayberemovedjand" replaced in a very short time and at small expense,

without the aid of an expert mechanic for the purpose, It will beunderstood that the pipe 9 may be; ex?

tended to all parts of the house or building infwl ich" the heater isplaced, and that it will be. provided-with as many bibs as necessary fordrawing off .hot water at i any desired'points. It will be further seenthat the upper and lower ends of the water piston or valve 13 arebeveled, thus forming practically knife edges,

which when the piston moves up or down,.serve to. cut away deposits on.the side of the cylinder, due, to corrosion or impurities, thus insuringfree action of the valve so that it is practically impossible thatit-should stick. This feature is of practical importance, sinceaccidents have occurred in this class of automatic water heaters, by,reason of the valve sticking, so thatv gas would continue to flow afterthe water had been cutoff.

1 clairn 1. In a water-heater the combination with a heating coil, a.burner, and gas and water pipes, of regulating.

mechanism comprising a casinghaving a main vertical partition-provldedwith an opening in its upper portipn, gas and water compartments locatedon opposite sides of the said partition and each provided with gas andwater inlets and outlets, the gas compartment having a transversepartition with an opening and valve seat, differ-en tial gas and watervalves arranged between the respective inlets and outlets, u. pivotedoscillating lever extending through the opening in the verticalpartition and connected with said valves, the lever having a sphericalenlargement constituting its bearing point, a rigid tube secured in suchopening and having a spherical seat for the lever, the lever having alsoa. circular boss adjacent to the sphericalseat, and a soft rubber tubeinclosing the rigid tube and secured to the boss, as and for the purposespecified,

' 2. In a water and gas regulating mechanism for water heaters, thecombination with the casing having a main vertical partition providedwith an opening, adjacent gas and water chambers located on oppositesides of the said partition, and the latterbeing provided with a waterbypass, of'dilferential water and gas valves, and means for operativelyconnecting the'sarne, consisting of a trans verse lever looselyconnected with the stems of'the re spectlve valves, a tube secured inthe said opening in the main partition and provided with a seat for thepivot of the lever, and a soft rubber tube inclosing the joint of thelever with the tube and thus serving to form :1 waterand gas-tightjoint, as described.

EUGENE E. KEHNERT.

Witnesses (tus'rnu SNYDER,

GEO. 0. CANOGA.

